URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — The victim of Monday’s crash west of Mattoon has been identified as a correctional officer within the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Dustin Heuerman confirmed to WCIA that Officer Jennie Ashley, 47, was the individual who died in the crash at Western Avenue and Dole Road. He said Ashley was off duty at the time of the crash.
In a press release, Heuerman shared that Ashley started working in the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office in September 2023, but brought years of experience in corrections from previous employment.
“While only a Correctional Officer with the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office for a short amount of time, Officer Ashley made immediate connections with coworkers and even helped mentor some who were starting in the profession,” Heuerman said. “Officer Ashley built rapport with the inmates in which she interacted and frequently showed empathy in those interactions. She will be greatly missed.”
Out of respect, the uniformed divisions of the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office will be wearing mourning bands on their badges until Ashley’s funeral has concluded.
COLES COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — There was a deadly crash near Mattoon Monday morning, Illinois State Police confirmed.
ISP officials said Troopers arrived at the scene by 7:07 a.m. The crash involved two vehicles colliding at Western Avenue and Dole Road in Coles County. Officials said it was a personal injury crash “involving a fatality.”
No further information available at this time, officials said.
This is a developing story.
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